The third spherical of pool matches within the 2023-24 Investec Champions Cup will get beneath method on Friday with groups jostling to safe their locations within the knockout stage.
All eight Premiership sides might make the final 16, with Bathtub, Northampton, Exeter and Leicester main the way in which with two wins from two.
Saracens, Bristol, Harlequins and Sale have all gained as soon as and might be seeking to enhance their probabilities.
Ulster and Glasgow have work to do with one win every whereas Cardiff – who face Harlequins on Saturday – have but to register a win.
Leinster stay on observe of their pursuit of a fifth European Cup star, however defending champions La Rochelle want to beat Leicester to keep away from a shock early exit.
Nothing is gained within the pool levels however momentum is essential in lifting the Champions Cup.
The highest 4 from every of the 4 swimming pools will qualify for the knockout levels, that means solely two sides from every pool will fail to succeed in the final 16 in April.
However with the highest two sides in every group securing house knockout video games, the place groups end may very well be essential.
Final season’s finalists Leinster and La Rochelle each completed prime of their swimming pools, which resulted in them taking part in all their fixtures at house earlier than the ultimate.
Pool 1 – Can Saracens chase down Bordeaux?
| Group | Performed | Received | Misplaced | Drawn | Pts diff | Factors | |
| 1 | Bordeaux Begles | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 10 |
| 2 | Lyon | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -1 | 7 |
| 3 | Bulls | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 5 |
| 4 | Saracens | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 |
| 5 | Bristol Bears | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -17 | 5 |
| 6 | Connacht | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -55 | 1 |
Bordeaux Begles have recorded two bonus-point wins and are accountable for Pool 1. Nevertheless, they face tough remaining fixtures, internet hosting Saracens on Sunday earlier than travelling to South Africa to play the Bulls.
Three-time champions Saracens will hope the Bulls can do them a favour within the closing spherical, with prime spot up for grabs if they will win at Bordeaux this weekend.
Bristol host the South African aspect on Saturday figuring out a victory will assist their probabilities of securing a prime spot with backside aspect Connacht, who’re prone to not reaching the knockouts in the event that they lose away at Lyon, being their closing recreation.
Pool 2 – Toulouse and Bathtub decider?
| Group | Performed | Received | Misplaced | Drawn | Pts diff | Factors | |
| 1 | Toulouse | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 10 |
| 2 | Bathtub | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 10 |
| 3 | Ulster | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -7 | 5 |
| 4 | Harlequins | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -25 | 5 |
| 5 | Racing 92 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -19 | 2 |
| 6 | Cardiff | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -52 | 2 |
Racing 92, who recruited South Africa’s double World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi and England wing Henry Arundell, face a tough journey to in-form Bathtub on Sunday, figuring out a win is crucial to maintain their European dream alive.
Bathtub have been the decide of the Premiership sides to this point, scoring 76 factors with two bonus-point victories. Summer time signing Finn Russell has helped unlock their harmful backs Ollie Lawrence and Joe Cokanasiga, who’ve 4 tries in Europe between them.
Antoine Dupont’s Toulouse, who even have most factors, journey to Belfast to face Ulster on Saturday earlier than internet hosting Bathtub in what may very well be a pool deciding fixture.
Nevertheless, Ulster, after a powerful house win over Racing, will look to shake up Pool 2 by beating the French aspect.
Cardiff host Harlequins on Saturday, with a optimistic consequence the one reasonable end result for his or her qualification hopes. Nevertheless, one win may very well be sufficient to qualify beneath the brand new format.
Pool 3 – Premiership dominance
| Group | Performed | Received | Misplaced | Drawn | Pts diff | Factors | |
| 1 | Northampton | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 14 |
| 2 | Exeter | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| 3 | Glasgow | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -8 | 4 |
| 4 | Munster | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -8 | 3 |
| 5 | Bayonne | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -48 | 3 |
| 6 | Toulon | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -4 | 2 |
Apart from Saracens and Exeter, Premiership golf equipment have struggled to make a notable affect on the competitors within the final decade.
However robust begins have provided optimism they will compete towards the French powerhouses of Toulouse and La Rochelle who, alongside Leinster, are the one sides to function within the final three finals.
Exeter gained the competitors in 2020 and regardless of dropping key gamers Jack Nowell, Stuart Hogg and Luke Cowan-Dickie have rejuvenated their squad with youth.
The Chiefs are on 9 factors after wins over former champions Toulon and Munster, and host Glasgow on Saturday, aiming to place themselves in a powerful place for a house knockout tie.
Equally spectacular have been 2011 finalists Northampton Saints, who turned the primary workforce to guide their spot within the knockouts after hammering Bayonne.
The consequence means they’ve reached the knockout levels for the primary since 2020, once they misplaced to eventual champions Exeter within the quarter-finals.
Bayonne host Exeter subsequent weekend, when they’ll hope a win is sufficient to sneak into the knockout levels.
Toulon are in scorching water after dropping their opening two video games. They host Munster on Saturday in a must-win recreation for each side because the Irish province are additionally winless in Pool 3.
Pool 4 – La Rochelle in peril
| Group | Performed | Received | Misplaced | Drawn | Pts diff | Factors | |
| 1 | Leinster | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 9 |
| 2 | Leicester | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 9 |
| 3 | Sale | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 4 |
| 4 | Stormers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -8 | 4 |
| 5 | La Rochelle | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -8 | 2 |
| 6 | Stade Francais | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -26 | 1 |
Defending champions La Rochelle, who wish to win the title for the third season in a row, are in peril of lacking out on the knockouts after dropping their opening two video games towards Leinster and Stormers.
Manie Libbok’s injury-time conversion snatched a win for Stormers towards Ronan O’Gara’s aspect to intensify the impact of dropping their titanic opener with Leinster.
It means victory towards Leicester on Sunday is now essential.
The Tigers have gained their opening two video games however will come up towards the daunting process of dealing with La Rochelle and Leinster of their remaining two fixtures.
4-time champions Leinster gained their opening video games towards La Rochelle and Sale, and face Stade on Saturday of their chase for a prime spot.
Stade Francais have additionally but to register a win and can look to provide a miracle in Dublin to remain alive within the competitors.
Sale Sharks, who beat Stade of their opening match, journey to South Africa to play Stormers. Each side would doubtless safe a spot within the knockouts with success.